In PTSD, victims' brains are awash with heightened levels of cortisol. High, sustained doses of cortisol destroy neuroreceptors in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that controls the fight/flight (and freeze) mechanism, which becomes heightened and uncontrollable. The hippocampus, in many PTSD victims, is significantly smaller than normal. This part of the brain is also controls spatial navigation and spatial memory.

Suddenly, a lot of shit makes sense. Especially my almost comic lack of spatial intelligence and direction sense.